5 Tips to Avoid a Summer Slowdown

I can't speak about the rest of the country, but here in NYC business all but shuts down by Thursday. Many businesses have some form of summer Fridays whether that means that offices are shut all day, part of the day or people alternate Fridays off. If you do get someone on a Friday, they are already thinking about the weekend, and probably not in the doing-business mindset.

Here are some things to do to make good use of summer Fridays:

1. Work on that big idea you have wanted to for the past three years.
2. Pull up a chair to one of your employee's desk and get to know them better.
3. Take a client out for an extended lunch or an early drink.
4. Take the day off and spend time with family or friends.
5. Read that business book that has been sitting on your desk (or catch up on the latest NY Report issue or archives)

Bonus tips:

• I tell my team not to send emails on Fridays if the recipient is not expecting it. Otherwise your email is on the bottom of a long pile on Monday morning.
• I can tell you that over the years I have got a hold of some great prospects on a Friday afternoon in the summer that have lead to great deals. If you or your team is around on a summer Friday afternoon, set aside a few minutes for calling those execs that normally have their calls screened.